Get an Inside Look Into the Magic of Diagon Alley

In "London," you have to stare at the sign for The Leaky Cauldron for a while before you can make out what it says.

Here's a photo of 12 Grimmauld Place, where every few minutes you can catch a peek at Kreacher the house elf through the window.

The Hogwarts Express is a real, full-size train that takes you from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, the original park for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Harry's luggage and owl, Hedwig, wait patiently for him at Platform 9 3/4.

Hedwig and I shared a moment at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross Station.

The exterior of the Hogwarts Express is impressive. But the interior is what really gives you goosebumps.

They even shipped in the actual fabric used for the movie for the seating on the train. As you take the train, you see a screen where the window is that shows London to Hogwarts one direction, then a totally different video from Hogwarts to London the other way.

But possibly the coolest aspects to your ride are the shadows and voices you see and hear on the other side of the cart. There are, of course, Ron, Harry, and Hermione walking by and talking (although actors impersonated Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson's voices, since they didn't do any new voiceover work for the new expansion), but things get real when the Dementors pass by!

You enter Diagon Alley walking through a brick wall just like the one Hagrid takes Harry through in the first book/film.

The Leaky Cauldron is another example of how true to the film this new park is.

I'll stick with the tried-and-true butterbeer.

The highlight of the performance is when Death rises up in the smoke at the end.

The lobby in Gringotts Bank is impressive, and it's where you enter for the Escape From Gringotts ride.

Eternelle's Elixir of Refreshment serves "elixers," aka colored flavors (like pineapple, watermelon, and mint), that you can add to your "Gillywater," the new name for bottled water!

James Phelps, Evanna Lynch, Matt Lewis, and Oliver Phelps take questions from the media.

I had to pose with my wand in the Gringotts interview set.

The red carpet in front of King's Cross Station gets prepped for the Harry Potter cast.

I interviewed Bonnie Wright aka Ginny Weasley on the red carpet.

I interviewed Evanna Lynch on the red carpet. She hasn't lost her Harry Potter fandom, and the fans adore her all the more for it! (She tweeted that she got her dress in Tokyo.)

I interviewed Tom Felton on the red carpet, and I must say he's much nicer than his character Draco Malfoy. He had his girlfriend, Jade Olivia (not pictured), by his side at the event.

Fans at the park went wild for Matthew Lewis, who has grown into the stud of the franchise since playing the awkward but adorable Neville Longbottom. And yes, he is just as charming as you would imagine he is.

I interviewed Matt Lewis on the red carpet.

I spoke with James (left) and Oliver Phelps on the red carpet. The twins play the Weasley twins, Fred and George, although only one survives the series (as James reminded me).

I got some blushing when I asked James (left) and Oliver Phelps about the best Harry Potter pickup lines they've heard.

I interviewed Warwick Davis, who plays the goblin Griphook and Professor Flitwick. Warwick also had his family (not pictured) by his side at the event.

I had to let Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley) know that I'm a huge fan of About Time before I started my interview. Keep an eye on this adorable guy; with his Star Wars gig on the horizon, he's sure to be one to watch.

Helena Bonham Carter is a goddess, and she was radiant as always on the red carpet. She is much nicer (thankfully) than her evil onscreen counterpart Bellatrix Lestrange. Her family (not pictured) was also with her at the event, including partner Tim Burton.

When we first stepped in, we saw the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop with the moving hat (and bunny) atop the head of Fred (or George) as promised.

An extremely lifelike Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon sits atop Gringotts Bank and breathes real, hot fire every few minutes.

Here's a night shot of Diagon Alley when we first entered the new park.

Knockturn Alley is especially creepy at night. Here's one of my first attempts at casting a spell. Hey, a little dark magic never hurt anyone . . .

At Diagon Alley's Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, we tried the new butterbeer ice cream, and it was seriously delicious.

Domhnall Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane, and Warwick Davis listened to a question during their panel.

Evanna Lynch explained that Diagon Alley is as much for fans of the Harry Potter films as it is for fans of the book series. She said, "You can just walk through the books in this land."

Tom Felton and Helena Bonham Carter, who play villains Draco Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, answered questions during a panel. The two are far from villainous in their real lives. In fact, Helena shared that her two children (with partner Tim Burton), Billy and Nell, were "enchanted" with Diagon Alley. She added that Nell, who's 6, just started reading the first book.

Tom Felton also said he hopes to bring his own little ones to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter some day. Cue the awwws.

The dragon on top of Gringotts Bank is incredible. You'd think it's about to fly away.

Check out a section of Diagon Alley.

Hagrid's motorbike in front of Gringott's makes for the perfect photo op — especially when you have a butterbeer in one hand and a wand in the other. But the coolest shot in the motorbike has to be this one Warwick Davis posted on Twitter with the caption "Looking like a dodgy band's album cover."

We all need a stuffed Hedwig in our life.

The animatronic animals in the Magical Menagerie could keep you entertained for a while. Pictured here is the Kneazle . . .